Fuel lock for automobiles



Dec. 4 1923.

I A. F. GANTZ FUEL LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 20, 1922 Inc/02210:

141720.55 6cm Zz Patented Dec. 4, i923.

ravens AMOS F. GANTZ, OF WQODS'EOXVN, NEVI JERSEY.

FUEL LOCK FOR AUTQMOBILES.

Application filed February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,804.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos F. Gan'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woodstown, in the county of Salem and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel Locks for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved device which will be effective to prevent the theft of automobiles; said device being operative to lock the gasoline or other fuel so that the fuel cannot pass to the engine. 7

Another object is to so make my improved device that it can be readily made and in.- stalled.

Another object is to so make my improved device that it can be readily operated by the owner of an automobile upon which the device is mounted, or other authorized person, to allow thefeeding of the fuel but can not be operated by a thief or unauthorized person. p

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing in whic Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, ofa device made in accordance with my invention,

Fi re 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views showing various valve rings which form a part of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, 7 represents a metallic cylinder which at its top is provided with a head cap 8; said head cap including a flange 9 whichtelescopically fits within the top of the cylinder 7 and this head cap may be secured in any suitable manner for example by screws 10 or may be permanently secured to the cylinder by braz- 111 or otherwise attaching the same.

The inner surface of the cylinder 7. is accuratelyt finished 'in cylindrical form and three valve rings 11, 12 and 13 are fitted within the cylinder 7 so that their peripheral surfaces snugly fit the inner surface of the cylinder. These rings can rotate within the cylinder in a manner hereinafter described.

A base cap 14 is screwed on the lower end of the cylinder 7 and forms a closure therefor. If desired this base cap after being mounted upon the cylinder can be secured permanently thereto in. the same manner as above described in connection with the head cap 8. An operating selective shaft 15 extends through an axial hole 16 in the head cap 8 and has a portion 1! which extends axially through the rings 11, 12 and 13. A disk plate 18 fits within a recess in the lower end of the bottom ring 13 and this disk plate has a sleeve extension 19 which surrounds the lower end portion of the shaft 15. A coiled spring 20 is interposed between the disk plate and the bottom of the base cap 14f and tends to support the rings 11, 12 and 13 and to hold the upper edge of the top ring 11 in sliding abutment with the lower end of the flange 9. The lower end of the operating shaft 15 has an extension 21 which fits an axial cavity in the upper surface of the bottom of the base cap 14 and serves as a thrust bearing for the shaft 14. A collar 23 is secured to the shaft 15 by a screw 24; said collar serving to prevent the upward movement of the shaft.

The rings 11, 12 and 13 are so positioned that the top edge surface of the ring 13 slidably abuts the lower edge surface of the ring 12 and the upper edge surface of the ring 12 slidably abuts the lower edge surface of the ring 11. The ring 12 has a duct or passage 25 confined within its thickness and this passage extends from the upper,

to the lower surface of said ring. The ring 11 has a duct or passage 26 which extends upward from its lower surface and then branches outward to intercept the peripheral surface of the ring.

In like manner the ring 13 has a duct 27 i which extends downward within'its thickness from the top edge surface and branches outward to intercept its peripheral surface. The branch portions of the ducts 26 and 27 are adapted to register with openings 28 and 29 which are formed in the cylinder or housing 7 and in alignment with these openin'gs are mounted nipples 30 and 31 which connect with sections 32 and 33 of the fuel pipe line. For example, the pipe seotion32 may be considered to lead from the fuel reservoir of an automobile and the pipe section 33 can be considered to lead to the carburetor of the automobile. The nipples 30 and 31 can be permanently secured to the pipe sections and to the cylinder.

embodiment of my invention, 1 have illustrated the ring 11 provided with two of the pins 34. These plns extend inwardly beyond the 1nner surfaces of th rings and I are adapted to be engaged by arms 37 on the portion 17 of the shaft when the shaft 15 is rotated or partially rotated. For errample,l have shown two of the arms 37 in the plane of the pins said latter arms 37 being in axial alignment: with each other. I have also shown two of the 37 in the plane of the pin 35; said latter arms 37 being arranged at an angle to each other. I have also shown a single arm 37 in the plane of t e pin 36. it will be noted that the various pins 3%, occupy difierent angles with respect to the. ducts of the rings to which they are attached.

In the operation of the device it is necessar after the rin s have been moved into y? 2:

I provide the following means.v

An indicator plate 38 is secured to the head cap 8 and the peripheral edge of this indicator plate is provided with notches 39 which have registering markings thereon, such for example as the numerals shown in Figure 2. An indicating finger L0 is at tached to a collar 41 which is adjustably connected to the shaft 15 below a hand wheel 42; said hand wheel being secured to the shaft 15. l he linger 4:0 is preferably made of resilient material and is adapted to engage within the notches These notches are made comparatively shallow so that when the shaft 15 is turned, it is possible for the walls of the notches to move the finger out, but the finger l0 owing to its resiliency will endeavor to engage any notch in front of which it passes during the rotation of the shaft. By knowing the relative positions of the pins and the arms 37 with respect to the various ducts, itis possible by the turning of the shaft 15 first in one direction and then the other'to cause the arms to move the rings into their aligned position to allow the fuel to pass through the ducts from the pipe section 32 to the pipe section 33. Therefore any one knowing the combination can cause the proper alignment of said ducts. The device can be located in any manner suitable to the owner or other authorized person so that the inplate will be visible and so that the shaft 15 can be actuated.

1 preferably provide the cylinder 7with screw threaded holes l3 in which is positioned a packing 44 which can be lubricated so as to properly lubricate the rings and allow them to freely move under the influence of the actuating shaft; screws L5 being fitted within the holes 43 so that the packing can be held against the rings. Furthermore I also provide a stufling box 46, on the head cap 8, through which the shaft 15 passes so as to form an effective seal for the device.

While I have described my invention as come within the scope of the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V i 1. In a device of the character described, relatively movable members in the form of rings having ducts therein; and means extending through said rings and. including arms operating in the space provided within said rings for moving said members with their ducts into and out of alignment; sub stantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, relatively movable members in the form of rings having ducts therein and having pins in various angular positions relatively to said ducts; and means extendingthrough said rings and including arms operating in the space provided within said rings, said arms being movable into engagement with said pins to actuate said members and there,- by cause said. ducts to move into and out of alignment; substantially as described.

3. Ina device of the character described, a housing providing inlet and outlet fuel openings: rings fitting within the housing and having ducts adapted to register with each other and respectively with said openings; and means extending through said rings and providingarms adapted to respectively move said rings; substantially as described. V V 7 4t. In a device of the character described, a housing providing inlet and outlet fuel openings; rings fitting within the housing and having ducts adapted to register with each other and respectively with said openings; pins carried on the inner sides of said rings; and a shaft extending into said housing and internal space of said rings, said.

1,47e,2ee 3 rings through the medium of said pins; substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, a housing providing inlet and outlet fuel openings; rings fitting within the housing and having top and bottom edges abutting with ducts extending within their thickness said ducts being adapted to register with each other" and means having a portion outside of said housing and extending through said rings for actuating said rings; substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, a housing providing inlet and outlet fuel openings; rings fitting within the housing and having top and bottom edges abutting with ducts extending within their thickness, said ducts being adapted to register with each other; means having a portion outside of said housing and extending through said rings for actuating said rings; and resilient means for keeping said edges of the rings in abutment with each other; substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, relatively movable members in the form of rings having ducts therein, pins on the inner sides of said rings positioned in various angular positions relatively to said ducts; and

means extending through said rings and having arms disposed thereon in such positions as to permit alternate movement of the same for engagement with said pins to successively actuate said members and thereby cause said ducts to move into alignment; substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, a plurality of relatively movable members in the form 0i rings having ducts therein; means in the form of pinson the inner sides of said rings; actuating means Xtending through said rings, said means having a pair of arms in axial alignment for engage ment with the pins on one or" said rings, a pair of arms at an angle to each other for engagement with the pin of another of said rings, and a single arm for engagement of the pin of another of said rings, to align the ducts by alternate movement of said actuating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMOS F. GANTZ.

Witnesses:

DUDLEY C. PANCOAST, W. T. WOLLASTON. 

